In Arizona today thousands attended a tearful memorial service for the 19 firefighters who gave their lives protecting their community from the Yarnell Hill fire. NBC’s Miguel Almaguer reports.

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>>>a sad day in
prescott
, arizona today. the
memorial service
for all 19 firefighters, members of that single wildfire hotshot team, they died fighting a fire that by the way continues to burn. people came from across this country and among those paying tribute today, the
soul survivor
from that crew. nbc's miguel almaguer was there and has our report.

>> reporter: the tribute honored their lives and their sacrifice.

>>wade
scott parker
.

>> reporter: 19 fallen firefighters who fought and died together. dan fraho was their chief.

>>if i could fulfill my fondest wish, it could be that my tears would wash away the pain and loss that we all feel. you raise me up

>> reporter: the
granite mountain
hotshots were a
band of brothers
who saved homes and battled blazes wherever they were called.

>>an elite unit in every sense of that phrase.

>> reporter: last week the hotshots were in their own backyard when a firestorm swept over them, only one man in the team survived. brendan mcdonagh, the crew lookout was a mile away. today he read the hotshot prayer.

>>bless my
hotshot crew
, my family, one and all.

>> reporter: for nine days, the city of
prescott
and the firefighters across the country have saluted the hotshots. outside, thousands gathered in the
summer heat
to pay their respects.

>>it's amazing to see the amount of people that have supported our small town and the heroes that are from here.

>> reporter: tonight a city, a state, a country remembers the
granite mountain
19.